Automotive transmission



Oct. 28, 1941. c. J. SURDY 9 AUTOMOTIVE TR ANSMISSION I Filed March 25, 1958 v 1 .1. T 21 {*3 6 12 1.9 is 7167 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 Charles J. Surdy, Tuckahoe, N. Y.

Application March 25,1938, Serial No. 197,976 a 8 Claims. (o1. 192-4) This invention relates to automotive transmissions and more particularly to transmissions known as the overdrive and freewheeling" types. Y

Transmissions of the type described permit operation of the automotive .vehicle at higher rates of speeds with lower speeds of the engine by providing a gear train which-is set into operation whenever the resistance of theroad is less than the power output operating the vehicle wheels; in other'words, when the ,vehicle coasts so that the wheels are in eiiect driving the motor,

the gear train is set into operation.

A serious disadvantage of these overdrive and freewheeling devices is that braking of the vehicleis difficult because the moment the operator releases the accelerator pedal to operate the brakes, the vehicle coasts and the compression of the motor is not available as an added braking medium. Consequently, the use of overdrive and freewheeling devices in hilly and mountainous gions is not deemed safe. Its use in heavy tr flic is likewise not usually feasible.

It is the principal object of this invention to improve the "overdrive and freewheeling device so that its operation will be possible under all conditions.

More specifically, the invention contemplates improving the overdrive and freewheeling" device whereby application of the vehicle brakes place the device into an in gear" position.

It 'i's'also an object of this invention to provide, in an overdrive device, means responsive to movement of a speed control pedal for energizing a servo-motor operatively connected with a pawl or dog essential to overdrive operation.

It is a further object of this inventionto use fluid power to so actuate this device.

These and other objects, together with their attendant advantages, will become apparent upon reading the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic view showing the invention in section; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line mission. A mainshaft I2 is slidably keyed within the take-off shaft H and is provided with a toothed portion l3. This toothed portion I3 is tailshaft l4, the freewheelcam l5 and the plate The tailshaft l4 has secured thereto a drum or ring gear portion l'l provided with internal gear teeth II which mesh with planetary gears IS. A sun gear portion 20 is secured to the casing Ill and engages the planetary gears l9 to complete an epicyclicgear train. The planetary gears I! are supported upon pintles 2| which carry a cage portion 22 whereby the planetary gears IQ may revolve about the sun gear .20 and gt; the same time rotate about respective pintles Plate structure It carries weighted pawls24 which are received in guide forming projections 140 and arranged to engage grooves 23 in the cage 22. The 'weighted pawls .24 are held inwardly by springs 9 and areadapted to engage grooves 23 upon relatively rapid rotation of main shaft I2 and plate l6, whereupon centrifugal force overcomes the resistance of the springs 9.

operates a connecting member 8, which is secured to a shifter 6 for moving the collar 42 and mainshaft l2 to the left whereby the toothed portion '13 thereof engages the plate l6 and freewheel cam 15. The collar 42 is secured to the mainshaft H by means such as a screw 43. In speeds below 10 M. P. H., the flow of power is through the. cam l5, roller I and tailshaft I l. Upon reaching a-speed in excess of 40 M. P. H., the weighted pawls 24 tend to fly outwardly. Engagement of the grooves 23 by the pawls 24 cannot be accomplished until the foot is, taken oil? the accelerator pedal in order that the mainshaft [2 and the weightedpawls 24 may slow down so as to approximately equal the speed of the cage 22. As soon as these speeds are equalized, the pawls 24 all are able to insert themselves into the closely fitting grooves 23. Thecar is then in "overdrive and the flow o f power is'from the mainshaft l2 to the plate [Stand pawls 24, thence throughcage 22 1b the drunifl by planetary gears I9. This results in the tailshaft I4 rotating at a higher speed than the mainshaft I2.

Thus far, the mechanism described is more or less conventional and has proved to be highly desirable in attaining high vehicle speeds at low R. P. M. of the engine crankshaft. This results ,in better fuel performance as well as increased arranged to engage internal teeth formed in the ot r me,

There is, however, an objectionable feature in such devices. In the main, this objection is based upon the fact that considerable care must be exercised in operating the car because the overdrive and/or freewheeling arrangement renders braking more difficult. This is due to the fact that as soon as the operator releases his foot from the accelerator pedal, the vehicle coasts and to bring it to a stop requires greater braking effort because the engine is not functioning to assist in braking of the car. This is especially noticeable in descending grades. Consequently, the use of "overdrive" and/or freewheelin'g is discouraged in hilly or mountainous country. Its use in traflic is also unsafe because sudden stops require quick braking action, which is not possible when the car coasts.

In order to obviate this objectionable feature 2 of the overdrive and/or freewheeling devices,

the following mechanism isprovided. Upon the mainshaft l2, a sleeve 21 'isslidably keyed whereby its inner portion 28 may be moved underneath the pawls 24 for moving them to a position for engaging the grooves 23. The other end of the sleeve 21 is provided with a collar 28a secured by a screw 44 to the sleeve 2] and-engaged by a fork 29 mounted on a shifter shaft 30. Shaft 30 is operatively connected to one end of a fulcrumed lever 3|, the opposite end of which is connected to a movable diaphragm 32 of a vacuum servo motor 33. A spring 34 normally maintains these parts in the position shown.

A valve 35 controls the flow of fluid power from pipe 36 to pipe 31, the latter leading to the vacuum motor 33. Pipe 36 communicates with a valve 38, operable by the control button 25, when in the position shown, to establish communication with a pipe 39 leading from an intake manifold or other source of fluid power. The valve 35 is connected to the brake pedal 40 by a spring 4|. With the parts in the position shown and the vehicle being operable at speeds below i M. P. H., depressing the brake pedal 4|] will cause valve 35 to establish communication between pipes 36 and 31 so that the diaphragm 32 will I move to the left. This causes the sleeve 21 to move toward the right for moving the weighted pawls 24 in a position to engage grooves 23. Engagement is readily secured because it has been necessary to first release the accelerator pedal before depressing the, foot pedal 4|]. This will allow sufficient time for the speedsof cage 22 and pawls 24 to equalize, as hereinbefore explained. With the-cage 22 engaged by the pawls 24, the car is ingear during brakingthereof and consequently less time and power will be required to bring the car-t0 a stop. Even though this in gear ratio is higher than the normal direct lease of. the brake pedal 40 will result in the valve 35 being returned to its originalposition shown in Fig. 1 since the spring 4| will compress and act as a lever in forcing the valve 35 to the right.

It will be appreciated that this feature will be of advantage in that use of the overdrive" and/or freewheeling" devices may be safely extended for operation in traffic or in hilly and mountainous country.

1. In an automotive device comprising a brake operating mechanism, a power input shaft. a power output-shaft, a gear train between said shafts, means responsive to a coasting load on said output shaft for rendering said gear train operative whereby said input shaft operates said output shaft through said gear train, a source of fluid power, and means controlled by said brake operating mechanism for rendering said gear train operative by fluid power.

2., In an automotive device comprising a brake operative whereby said input shaft operates said output shaft through said .gear train, the improvement which consists in providing separate means for rendering said gear train operative, said separate means including a source of fluid power, a fluid motor operatively connected to said last-named means, and means controlled by said brake operating mechanism for establishing I communication between the source of fluid power and said fluid motor.

3. In an automotive device comprising a brake operating mechanism, a power input shaft, a power output shaft, a gear train between said shafts, means responsive to a coasting load on said output shaft and at a predetermined rate of speed thereof for rendering said gear train op-- erative whereby said input shaft operates said output shaft through said gear train, and means controlled by said brake operating mechanism for H maintaining said gear train in operative rela-' tion when the speed of said output shaft is' below the predetermined rate.

4. In an automotive device comprising a brake operating mechanism, a power input shaft, 8. power output shaft, a gear train between said shafts, means responsive to a coasting load on said output shaft and at a predetermined rate of speed thereof for rendering said gear train operative whereby said input shaft operates said output shaft through said gear train, a source of fluid power, and means controlled by said brake operating mechanism for maintaining said gear train in operative relation by fluid power when the speed of said output shaft is below the predetermined rate.

5. In an automotive device-comprising a brake operating mechanism, a power input shaft, a power output shaft, 2. gear train between said shafts, means responsive to a coasting load on said output shaft and at a predetermined rate of speed thereof for rendering said gear train operative whereby said input shaft operates said L output shaft through said gear train, separate meansfor maintaining said gear train operative when the speed of said output shaft is below the predetermined rate, a source'of fluid power, a

fluid motor operatively connected to said lastnamed means, and means controlled by said brake operating mechanism for establishing communication between the source of fluid power and said fluid motor.

6. In an automotive device comprising a brake control pedal, a power input shaft, a power output shaft, planetary overdrive gearing between said shafts including a portion having radial slots therein, a radially movable pawl arranged to engage one of said radial slots whereby said planetary overdrive gearing is rendered operative for driving said output shaft at aspeed greater than the speed of said input shaft, and a source of power, the improvement which consists in providing a servo-motor for controlling the .radial movement of said pawl, and means operable by said brake control pedal for energizing said servo-motor by power from the source thereofand also for effecting de-energiza tion thereof.

7. In an automotive device comprising a; speed control, pedal, a power input shaft, a poweroutput shaft, planetary overdrive gearing betweensaid shafts including a portion having radial slots therein, a radially movable pawl arranged ing the radial movement, by power ,means; of said pawlcinto engagement withoneof said radial slots, and means responsive to movement of said speed control pedal for energizing said Servomotor by power from the source thereof.

8. In an automotive device comprising a power input shaft, a power output shaft, planetary overdrive gearing between said shafts including a portion having radial slots therein, .a radially movable pawl arranged to engage one of said radial slots, only upon establishment of. a coasting load on said output shaft, whereby said planetary overdrive gearing is rendered operative for rotating said output shaft at a speed greater than the speed of said input shaft, and a source of power, the improvement which consists in providing a servo-motor operatively associated with said pawl for effecting the radial movement of said pawl, by power means, to engage one of said radial slots, and means for energizing said servo motor by power from the source thereof;

CHARLES J. SURDY. 

